An action shot from the Galway Plate with eventual winner Early Doors in the cheekpieces© Photo Healy Racing
Without a win over fences and making his debut in handicap company, the Joseph O'Brien trained Early Doors struck gold in the Tote Galway Plate.
Successful in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2019, the son of Solider Of Fortune failed to follow-up on that success in five subsequent starts.
Second on three of his four previous tries over fences, the JP McManus owned gelding was sent off at just 7/1 this evening, fitted with cheekpieces for the first time.
Settled behind the leaders by Mark Walsh and never too far off the pace, he blundered at the second last and was pushed along in sixth as they raced away from the final fence.
Soon ridden he came with his challenge between horses, edging to the front inside the final 150 yards, going on to hold off the late challenge of Royal Rendezvous by three parts of a length.
The runner-up was returned the 4/1 favourite under Paul Townend for Willie Mullins, while Mullins also saddled the third horse home and that was 33/1 chance Cabaret Queen with David Mullins aboard.
The West Awake (66/1) was a head back in fourth, with Snugsborough Benny (22/1), who finished third twelve months ago, in fifth.
Speaking from home on RTE Racing, O'Brien said: "I thought Mark gave the horse a fantastic ride and I'm delighted for JP and everyone at home.
"The start was very messy and I thought Mark done very well to get away good. He got into a lovely rhythm jumping.
"Obviously experience was a big question mark but we were delighted to see the rain coming and it was a big help to him.
"I was a little bit worried when he missed the second last but I knew he'd be coming home well.
"It's a very special race to win. I remember years ago always hearing about Life Of A Lord winning the race a couple of times for Dad so it's a very special race to win."
"We'd all love to be there but please God we'll all be there next year."
Mark Walsh added: "I got a good start and was tracking the leaders the whole way.
"He jumped brilliant for the first circuit but the second fence away from the stands on the second circuit he missed.
"I was tracking the lads going to the second last and we were proper motoring but he missed it and they got away from me a bit. It gave me something to aim at coming up the hill. He galloped all the way to the line.
"He won the Martin Pipe Hurdle in the past and always had the ability but has taken his time getting jumping and cheek-pieces were a big help to him and they really sharpened him up.
"He was well-in today and hopefully he can improve from that.
"It is a brilliant race and it is unfortunate the owners and crowd can't be here to see it but I don't mind too much!"
STEWARDS REPORT
D.N. Russell, rider of The Storyteller trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made mistakes at the first three fences and was pulled up thereafter.
Rachael Blackmore, rider of Spyglass Hill trained by Henry de Bromhead, reported to the Clerk of Scales that her mount made a mistake jumping the second past the stands and was pulled up shortly afterwards.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that The Big Lense trained by Gordon Elliott was found to have blood on both nostrils post race possibly as a result of falling.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
